Cycling Seoul to Busan

On this 9-day peninsular traverse, we plant our wheels on Korea's world-class cycling paths to follow meandering rivers, climb and descend through forested hillscapes, immerse ourselves in a tradition-rich yet rapidly modernising cultural heritage, and rub shoulders with locals over barbecues and endless refills of kimchi. With moderate daily distances and elevation gains, an entirely point-to-point route with no required vehicle transfers, cosy lodgings, and great food, this is the ideal tour for anyone looking to take a big bite out of South Korea by bike!

We kick off with a warm-up ride on mini e-bikes through the backstreets of Seoul before switching to our cross-country bikes and heading south along the Han River Bicycle Path. Transitioning from urban sprawl to rural bliss, we cycle through lush farmlands, visit an ancient Buddhist temple, soak in hot springs, and try our hand at the art of Korean paper-making. By day four, after some climbs through the Sobaek Mountains, we join the Nakdong River Bicycle Path, tracing Korea’s longest river past weirs, scenic bridges, and expansive rice paddies. In Sangju, we stay overnight at a hanok, a beautiful wooden house typical of pre-modern Korea, and in Waegwan, we visit a sombre Korean War Memorial. The last stage takes us through wild marshes filled with tall reeds before an epic finale over the “Busan Alps” leads us to the sprawling city of Busan, pressed up against the East Sea Coast. The tour ends with a celebratory dinner by the beach and a night in Busan.